Disclosed is a printer comprising a paper guide surface (11D) defining a printing region. A print head (8) is disposed opposite to the paper guide surface (11D) with a gap in between and adapted to move in parallel to the paper guide surface (11D) along the printing region (11) and beyond the printing region (11) into a retracted position (11C). A paper guide guides recording paper (5) to the printing region (11) and exposing it to the print head (8) in the printing region. The paper guide includes a guide plate (31) movable between a first position in which it is disposed opposite to the paper guide surface (11D) so as to guide recording paper (5) past the printing region (11), and a second position in which it is retracted from the printing region. A first pair of rollers is switchable between a closed state engaging each other for transporting the recording paper (5) to the printing region (11), and an open state separated from each other. A first mechanism (34-38) moves the guide plate (31) into the first position and returns it into the second position. A second mechanism (43-46) switches the rollers (41a, 41b) between the closed state and the open state, and a motor (32) drives both the first mechanism and the second mechanism so as to bring the first pair of rollers (41a, 41b) into the closed state and move the guide plate (31) from the second to the first position in a sequential order.